David Gulbransen

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Shake It Like a Polaroid What?

March 13, 2008 by Dave!

Update: Save Polaroid

Well, I knew it would happen eventually… last month, Polaroid announced they will no longer be manufacturing instant film. Many artists are mourning because Polaroid film had some pretty unique properties, which I don’t think digital has managed to capture–yet.

I’m no luddite. I gave up 35mm film for my Canon EOS Digital SLR some time ago. And I used to shoot Super 16mm motion picture film, and traded that for HD video a long time ago, too. And in all honesty, I haven’t shot with a Polaroid in many years, either.

But over the decades that I’ve dabbled in photography, Polaroid put out some cool stuff. Among my favorites were the instant slide film (yes, instant slide film… it was pretty damn cool stuff) and the beloved SX-70 (I own several), which is even today one of the coolest cameras ever made. Sadly, Polaroid hasn’t made the SX-70/Time Zero stock for a couple of years now…

Things change, and digital cameras are capable of capturing truly amazing imagery. But for a camera nut like me, who was always attracted to photography partially because of the chemistry, equipment and science behind the craft, seeing the “old ways” go like this will always be just a touch melancholy.

Update: Save Polaroid is a group of artists and hobbyists who are trying to motivate some company to pick up where Polaroid is leaving off. If you love the medium, it’s worth checking out…

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Filed Under: Personal, Technology Tagged With: Polaroid Photography Hobbies SX-70 Film

Comments

  1. Ray Ward says:
    March 13, 2008 at 9:28 pm

    This post reminded me of the opening sequence in the movie “Memento.” You know, when Guy Pierce’s character, Leonard Shelby, shakes the Polaroid photo — as it fades out, because the scene is shot in reverse. No other metaphor could have captured what that movie was all about as well as that reverse Polaroid sequence.

  2. Cathie says:
    March 18, 2008 at 8:38 am

    I feel your sentiments about Polaroid too. I especially loved the instant slide film but learned of it just shortly before it was discontinued. I just wish there was enough incentive (a.k.a. profit) for these companies to at least produce on a smaller scale for niche markets and hobbyists.
    I began doing photography twelve years ago, can you believe how quickly it’s changed?

  3. Horatio A. says:
    March 19, 2008 at 7:30 am

    There’s nothing like an 8×10 polariod. I’m going to miss the stuff.

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